Gender and Society
Men as Women Article #1 Outline
Hermaphrodite vs. Transsexual
Herculine Barbin- * 19th century * Genitals were ambiguous: a one-and-a half inch long penis, partly descended testicles, and a urethral opening. Has vulva, labia majora, and a feminine uretha. Never menstruated, no womb. Whole outer part of her body is that of a man. * Never felt socially accepted because he did not think a women would ever marry him. * No social status for a man-women at this time * Committed suicide at 30 * What could have happened 100 years later? * Gender reassignment surgery? With no gender reassignment surgery what sex might she be labeled as on her birth certificate?
Emma
* 1937 * Penis-like clitoris as well as a vagina. * Raised as girl * Had numerous relationships with women, married a man. * Refused to have vaginal closure and live as a man because it would mean having to work and divorce. * Why was she so content with her lifestyle? * Possibly because her gender identity was clearly that of a women
Gender ambiguity and its acceptance in other cultures * Dominican Republic- female at birth have gender masculinized * Adopt men’s identities and social roles despite being raised as girls * Culturally, the community recognized a third sex catagory * Name for this third gender: Guevedoces (Penis at 12), Machihembra (first women, then man), Guevotes (penis and eggs) Switching Genders * Surgically altering their genitalia to fit their gender identity * Chromosomes remain the same * Some indicate sense from an early age of being in the wrong body * “Strategies and rituals” to create a feminized self * Gender identity vs. Gender status in western culture vs. other cultures * Western culture= preoccupation with genitalia * Cross Dressing- Since cross dressers can put on and take off gender by changing clothes, do they disrupt the conventional conflation of sex
Hermaphrodite vs. Transsexual
Herculine Barbin- * 19th century * Genitals were ambiguous: a one-and-a half inch long penis, partly descended testicles, and a urethral opening. Has vulva, labia majora, and a feminine uretha. Never menstruated, no womb. Whole outer part of her body is that of a man. * Never felt socially accepted because he did not think a women would ever marry him. * No social status for a man-women at this time * Committed suicide at 30 * What could have happened 100 years later? * Gender reassignment surgery? With no gender reassignment surgery what sex might she be labeled as on her birth certificate?
Emma
* 1937 * Penis-like clitoris as well as a vagina. * Raised as girl * Had numerous relationships with women, married a man. * Refused to have vaginal closure and live as a man because it would mean having to work and divorce. * Why was she so content with her lifestyle? * Possibly because her gender identity was clearly that of a women
Gender ambiguity and its acceptance in other cultures * Dominican Republic- female at birth have gender masculinized * Adopt men’s identities and social roles despite being raised as girls * Culturally, the community recognized a third sex catagory * Name for this third gender: Guevedoces (Penis at 12), Machihembra (first women, then man), Guevotes (penis and eggs) Switching Genders * Surgically altering their genitalia to fit their gender identity * Chromosomes remain the same * Some indicate sense from an early age of being in the wrong body * “Strategies and rituals” to create a feminized self * Gender identity vs. Gender status in western culture vs. other cultures * Western culture= preoccupation with genitalia * Cross Dressing- Since cross dressers can put on and take off gender by changing clothes, do they disrupt the conventional conflation of sex